The Japanese Gardens at Cowden and Rumbling Bridge Nursery

PGG visit to The Japanese Gardens at Cowden and Rumbling Bridge Nursery

The Japanese Gardens at Cowden

At the turn of the 20th century, the Scottish adventurer Ella Christie returned home from a trip to the Orient inspired to build a Japanese garden. As might be expected from the first Western woman to meet the Dalai Lama, Christie’s approach to developing the garden was trailblazing. She chose a female designer – the gifted Taki Handa – to create the seven acre site in the grounds of Cowden Castle, thirty miles north west of Edinburgh. In so doing, The Japanese Garden at Cowden became the first and only garden of its size and scale to be designed by a woman. It remains a unique and utterly authentic bridge between Scottish and Japanese culture.

Sadly vandalised in the 1960s, the garden is now being brought back to life by a team of experts led by the renowned Japanese architect and garden designer Professor Masao Fukuhara from Osaka University of Arts.

Although the restoration is not complete, the trustees have taken the decision to welcome visitors in 2018. However, it is extremely important that people realise that although Cowden is beautiful and we have introduced an extended woodland walk, the restoration is ongoing.

PGG member and Head Gardener Kate White will give us a guided tour of the gardens.

Visit cowdengarden.com for more details about The Japanese Garden.

Rumbling Bridge Nursery, Rumbling Bridge, Kinross

Established for twenty years, originally as wholesale suppliers to the National Trust for Scotland and other outlets, we have been an exclusively retail and mail order supplier for the past six years. Over this period, we have had a little more time to develop our garden, which now houses an interesting collection of rarer shrubs and plants, although the nursery remains our main focus.

We attend most of the SRGC shows and various Yellow Book events throughout the year. Our specialities are alpine and woodland plants, dwarf shrubs and Primulas, which we grow at 600′ in a cold microclimate.


Visit rumblingbridgenursery.co.uk for more details about Rumbling Bridge Nursery.

Programme

10.00am – Meet at The Japanese Garden, Cowden for tea/coffee and a home baking in Kate’s bothy.
10.30am – Guided tour of the garden with HG Kate White.
1.00pm – Lunch at the garden Tea Room (pay for your own or bring a picnic to enjoy in the gardens.)
2.30pm – Rumbling Bridge Nursery.
4.30pm – Awa hame for tea.

Address and directions

Japanese Garden
From Dollar. Take the A91 east from Dollar towards Muckhart. 2 miles from Dollar turn left opposite the Muckhart Golf Club. Follow the Upper Hillfoot Road for approx. 3/4 mile until you see the Cowden Garden entrance.

From Muckhart. Take the A91 west from Muckhart. After half a mile turn first right and follow the Upper Hillfoot Road until you see a new wall and ‘Cowden Garden’. There maybe construction fencing in place out of hours. There is no access via Ardmill Lodge (was East Lodge), The West Lodge or Cowden House. I may contact members nearer the time to advise on which entrance to use as there may be construction work going on, so please supply an email or mobile number when booking.

Postcode/Satnav: FK14 7PJ


Rumbling Bridge Nursery
Rumbling Bridge Nursery, Briglands Estate, Rumbling Bridge, Kinross, KY13 0PS is only a few miles from the Japanese garden. 


Cost

Cost for day: £8.00 which will cover tea/coffee and home baking on arrival and entrance fees.

Booking